The biggest slice is for West Sussex County Council, which is asking for a 4.49 per cent rise in its council tax charge, equivalent to an extra 91 pence a week for anyone paying the average Band D tax range.

On top of that residents of Mid Sussex are also likely to pay about 11.5p a week extra on average in their Mid Sussex District Council tax. That means the average council payer will have to find about £1.02 a week extra in total.

The district council's performance and scrutiny committee last night discussed a proposed 4.5 per cent rise in the district tax, compared to a 3 per cent rise in 2007. This would add £6 a year to district tax bills, taking them to about £2.71 a week on average.

The full district council will decide its tax on February 27. It says the percentage is similar to that of other authorities. Sussex Police taxes, which have yet to be announced, must also be added to the two council taxes.

The proposed West Sussex increase means a Band D payer will have to find £1,098 a year for county council services instead of the present £1,050.8, a rise of about £50.

The county council tax bill is by far the highest of local authorities in the county because it provides about 80 per cent of the services, including fire and rescue, libraries, waste disposal and recycling services.

Council leader Henry Smith claimed £15.3m from the budget would be invested in many front-line services. The spending would include an extra £4 million on adults services, £1 million more on the costs of looking after children, and the cost of continuing the concessionary bus fares for young people from 5-19.

The decision on the proposed West Sussex budget will be taken on February 15, after it has been studied by scrutiny committees at a series of meetings and a recommendation is made to the cabinet on January 29.